Austria's Alive Again

After taking a year out (or, more accurately, sulking ‘cos no one liked their Alpine inspired entry of 2005), Austria are back, ready to take on 27 other semi-finalists in Helsinki, looking for a Grand Final place on Saturday 12th May.

Sadly, I fear the worst.

One of their Pop Idol losers, Eric Papilaya, has the unenviable job of trying to reignite Austria’s Eurovision flame with a song called “Get A Life, Get Alive”. An interesting fact about this song is that it was not recorded by Anastacia, but could have been had she not become ill. So, strictly speaking, she did not reject the song as such. But if Anastacia had recorded it, I imagine she would have only used it as a b-side. It’s not very good.

It’s not overly forgettable but, at the same time it lacks ANY sort of spark. It’s rather dull, rather bland and – I’m afraid – Austria may sit out next year in the thought that nobody likes them. The truth is their song is no good. AND it was an internal selection. Tut tut indeed.

The glory days of Alf Poier, Thomas Forstner and Udo Jurgens seem very far behind. Good luck to Eric – but don’t expect to see Saturday 12th.